Strand treatment testing



April 16, 1957 Filed Aug. 26, 1955 H..B. WAGNER ET AL STRAND TREATMENTTESTING 2 Sheets-Sheet l April 16, 1957 H. B. WAGNER ETAL STRANDTREATMENT TESTING I Filed Aug. 26, 1955 f2 Sheets-Sheej; 2

l4 Y Y I3 22 STRAND TREATMENT TESTING Harold B. Wagner and Albert M.Lavan, Lewistown, Pa.,

assignors to American Viscose Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., acorporation of Delaware Application August 26, 1955, Serial No. 530,825

14 Claims. (Cl. 28-22.)

Our invention relates to a method and apparatus for simultaneouslydetermining the receptive quality of a plurality of strands to treatmentwith a treating agent.

In weaving textile fabrics, the warp yarns to be incorporated into thefabric are fed to the weaving apparatus from a beam having layers orsheets of yarn ends wound thereupon. Each yarn layer contains 800 to1000 yarn ends. After the warp or yarn ends have been woven into afinished fabric, the fabric is then dyed and shipped to customers. Acommon customer complaint which has proved most bothersome to the yarnproducers, dyers and fabric finishers is that certain of the yarn endsin the woven fabrics, for one reason or another, did not absorb enoughor absorbed too much of the dye solution. These imperfectly dyed fabricsusually have to be scrapped or sold at reduced prices as inferior goods.Heretofore there has been no simple, eflicient and desirable method orapparatus for accurately determining the receptivity of the warp ends toa dye treatment before the Warp ends are incorporated into a fabric.

Yarn producers, dyers and weavers have been searching for a method andapparatus which is simple in form and which will accurately determinethe receptivity of each individual yarn or warp end used to treatmentwith a dye before the ends are woven into a fabric. If such a method andapparatus were available, the woven fabric could be dyed with assurancethat the final fabric would be uniformly dyed since any yarn ends whichfailed to satisfactorily receive the dye could be discarded before theweaving operation.

It is therefore one object of our invention to provide a new and novelmethod which is simple and inexpensive for testing the receptivity of aplurality of yarn ends to treatment with a dye solution or othertreatment before the ends are woven into fabrics.

Another object of our invention is to provide a new and novel method forsimultaneously determining the dye receptivity factor of continuous yarnor warp ends before they are collected on a yarn beam or spool.

A further object of our invention is to provide a new and novelapparatus which is simple and inexpensive for simultaneously determiningthe receptive qualities of a plurality of yarn ends to treatment with adye solution or other treating agent.

' Other objects and advantages of our invention will become moreapparent from a study of the following description and drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective of our dye testing apparatus; and

Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5 are views showing the steps, in sequence, of themethod for simultaneously testing the receptive quality of a layer orsheet of yarn or warp ends to dye treatment.

Referring now to the drawings, our preferred method and apparatus willnow be described in detail. As seen in Figure 1, our testing apparatusfor determining the receptivity characteristics of strands or yarn endsto treatment with treating agents comprises a supporting stand or frameA supported on coasters 4, 4. A drum 6 is journaled in bearings 8 whichare mounted on cross braces it i i of frame A. A pair of rotatablecylindrical surfaces or rods 13 and 14 of smaller diameter than the drum6 are supported on the top of the frame A on either side of the drum 6by bearing members 16, 16 secured to the frame corner legs 18, 18. Apair of bars 22, 23 one on each side of the frame A are atlixed to thecorner legs l8, 18 of the stand A. Spring clips 25, 25 are secured atspaced points to the outer face of each of the bars 22, 23. Tensioningrolls or weights 27, 27 are sup.

ported in cantilever fashion on arms 27', 27' whichin turn are pivotallysupported on a fixed shaft 29 mounted in bearings 31, 31. As mentionedabove, the yarn or warp end dye tester as described above represents thepreferred form. Without substantially departing from the preferredstructure described above, the tester may be easily modified shouldoperating conditions require such modification.

The method for testing or determining the dye receptivitycharacteristics of the yarn ends using the above described apparatuswill now be described. As seen in Figure 1, the continuous yarn ends, Y,Y which may be yarns of the regenerated cellulose type are supplied froma creel (not shown) and passed through a reed aligning assembly 33 toform a sheet of the yarn ends.

The sheet of ends is then passed over the guide roll 35.-

Before the sheet of continuous yarn ends Y, Y is Wound onto the beam 37,the individual yarn ends are tested on the tester A to determine theirreceptivity characteristics to treatment with certain treating agentssuch as a dye solution. The tester A is rolled into position in front ofthe beam 37 and, as seen in Figure 2, a portion of the sheet of yarnends Y, Y is drawn by the operator over rod 13%, drum n and rod 14 to aposition beyond the rod i l. The yarn ends Y, Y are then grouped by theoperator at a point beyond the rod 14. The operator must exercise carewhen grouping the ends to prevent the yarn ends overlying the rods 13and 14 and the drum 6 from overlapping. The grouped ends are thensnubbed around one of the spring holding clips 25 secured to the bar 23.

The operator next narrows the sheet of yarn ends to bring the yarn endsoverlying the rollers and drum into closer relation whereby the endswill, in a manner of speaking, simulate a fabric. Figure 2 also depictsthe first step in the narrowing of the sheet of yarn ends which overliethe rods 13, 14 and the drum 6. As seen therein, the yarn ends overlyingand adjacent the rod 14- are brought into a closer relationship with oneanother by rotating the bar M. After the sheet of yarn ends overlyingand adjacent the roller 14 has been narrowed, the operator then movesaround to the opposite side of the tester A and manually groups the yarnends of the sheet at a point below the rod 13 and at the same timeapplies a slight tension to the yarn ends. To bring the yarn endsoverlying and adjacent the rod 13 into a closer side by siderelationship, the operator then rotates the rod 13 (see Figure 3). Stillholding the grouped ends, the operator then rotates the drum 6 to bringthe yarns overlying and adjacent the drum 6 into a more intimate relationship (see Figure 4). The yarn ends Y, Y are now formed into atight band B which now, in a manner of speaking, simulates a fabric.

The band B of yarn ends is then snubbed on spring clip 25 secured to bar22 (see Figure 5). Care must be taken by the operator during thenarrowing operation in maintaining tension upon the sheet of yarn endsY, Y since the sheet lengthens as it is narrowed.

The band B of yarn ends Y, Y is now ready for testing to determine thereceptivity of the individual yarn ends to. treatment with a dyesolution or such other treatment as;

may be desired. Before the dye matter isapplied to the Patented Apr. 16,7

band, that portion of the band overlying the drum 6 is wetted withwater. The wetting step is important to the test dyeing operation sinceit serves to magnify any imperfecions in dyeing. Prior to the wettingoperation, a tensioning roll or weight 27 is swung into place (Figs. 1and against the band B to maintain the band B under proper tension sinceduring the water application and during the application of the dyesolution, the yarns will elongate as they absorb the applied liquids.The tensioning roll 27 resting against the band B will gradually swing.downward by force of gravity to eliminate any slack in the band duringthe wetting, dye application and testing. The water may be applied witha brush or other suitable applicator. The operator then applies a dyesolution with a dye applicator as (Fig. 5) to the wetted portion or thatportion of the band B overlying the drum 6. Before the band of yarn endswith the water and the dye applied thereto has dried, the dyed portionof the band B is carefully examined by the operator to determine whetheror not any of the yarn ends have failed to pick up or absorb the dye orwhether certain of the ends have absorbed too much of the dye. Shouldthe operator discover that certain of the yarn ends have not absorbedthe dye matter or that certain of the ends have absorbed too much of thedye, he then separates these defective ends from the band B and they areeliminated from the beam winding operation.

It should be pointed out here that the above process may be successfullycarried out without the water wetting step when treating agents otherthan dyes are to be applied to the yarns or other type strands whereinwater Wetting is not required to magnify the receptive qualities of thestrands to the treating liquid.

Although Figures 2 through 5 show only the preparation and treatment ofone group or portion of the entire sheet of yarn ends Y, Y passing overguide roll 35, the operation described above is repeated from theremainder of the yarn ends Y, Y. As seen in Figure l, the entire numberof yarn ends passing over guide roll 35 have been formed into fourseparate bands B on the dye tester A.

From the above description it is seen that we have provided a method fordye testing yarn ends which is simple in execution, inexpensive, andwhich may be carried out with a minimum amount of interruption in thebeaming operation. Our preferred dye testing apparatus is simple instructure, inexpensive to construct, and may easily be moved about asdescribed within the beaming plant.

It is to be understood that changes and variations may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the/present invention as definedin the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A method of simultaneously determining the receptive quality of aplurality of strands to treatment with a treating agent comprising thesteps of forming a sheet of strands, drawing the strand sheet over atleast one cylindrical rotatable surface, grouping the strands of thesheet together at a point beyond the cylindrical surface over which thestrands are drawn, anchoring the grouped strands of the sheet,maintaining the strand sheet under tension and in contact with therotatable surface, narrowing the sheet of strands into a one layer bandby rotating the surface, anchoring the band of strands on the oppositeside of the surface, applying a treating agent to a portion of the band,and inspecting the band of strands to determine whether or not theindividual strands of the band were satisfactorily receptive to thetreating agent.

2. A method of simultaneously determining the receptive quality of aplurality of strands to treatment with a treating agent comprising thesteps of forming a sheet of the strands, drawing the strand sheet over aplurality of spaced'apart cylindrical rotatable surfaceagrouping thes'trand'si-ofithe' sheet together at a point beyond the cylindricalsurfaces over which the strand sheet is drawn,

anchoring the grouped strands of the sheet, maintaining the strand sheetunder tension and in contact with the rotatable surfaces, narrowing thesheet of strands into a one layer band by rotating the surfaces,anchoring the band of strands on the opposite side of the surfaces,applying a treating agent to a portion of the band, and inspecting theband of strands to determine whether or not the individual strands ofthe band were satisfactorily receptive to the treating agent.

3. A method of simultaneously determining the receptive quality of aplurality of strands to treatment with a treating agent comprising thesteps of forming a sheet of the strands, separating a portion of thestrand sheet from the remainder of the sheet, drawing the separatedportion of the strand sheet over a plurality of spaced apart cylindricalrotatable surfaces, grouping the strands of the sheet together at apoint beyond the cylindrical surfaces over-which the strand sheet isdrawn, anchoring the grouped strands of the sheet, maintaining thestrand sheet under tension and in contact with the rotatable surfaces,narrowing the sheet of strands into a one layer band by rotating thesurfaces, anchoring the band of strands on the opposite side of thesurfaces, applying a treating agent to a portion of the band, andinspecting the band of strands to determine whether or not theindividual strands of the band were satisfactorily receptive to thetreating agent.

4. A method of simultaneously determining the receptive quality of aplurality of strands to'treatment with a treating agent comprising thesteps of forming a sheet of the strands with the strands lying in spacedapart relationship with respect to one another, drawing the strand sheetin succession over a first cylindrical rotatable surface of smalldiameter, a second cylindrical surface of a large diameter, and a thirdcylindrical rotatable surface of a diameter equal to that of the firstsurface, said surfaces lying in spaced apart relationship, groupingtogether the strands of the drawn sheet at a point beyond the thirdsurface, anchoring the grouped strands at a point beyond and below thethird surface, rotating the third surface to narrow that portion of thestrand sheet overlying and adjacent the third surface into a band ofclosely related strands, applying tension to the sheet of strands,rotating the first surface to narrow that portion of the strand sheetoverlying and adjacent the first surface into a band of closely relatedstrands, rotating the second surface of larger diameter to narrow thatportion of the strand sheet overlying and adjacent the second surfaceinto a band of closely related strands, anchoring the one layer band ofstrands at a point prior to and below the first surface, applying atreating agent to that portion of the band overlying the second surface,and inspecting the band of strands to determine whether or not theindividual strands of the band were satisfactorily receptive to thetreating agent.

5. A method of simultaneously determining the receptive quality of aplurality of strands to treatment with a treating agent according toclaim 4 comprising the step of applying additional tension to the bandof strands during the application of the treating agent to the strands.

6. A method of simultaneously determining the receptive quality of aplurality of strands to treatment with a treating agent according toclaim 4 wherein the strands comprise continuous yarn ends.

7. A method of simultaneously determining the receptive quality of aplurality of yarn ends to treatment with a dye solution comprising thesteps of forming a sheet of the yarn ends, drawing the yarn end sheetover at least one cylindrical rotatable surface, grouping together theyarn ends of the sheet at a point beyond the cylindrical surface overwhich the yarn ends are drawn, anchoring the grouped yarn ends of thesheet, maintaining the yarn end sheet under tension and in contact withthe rotatable surface, narrowing the yarn end sheet into a one-layerband by rotating the surface, anchoring the band of yarn ends on theopposite side of the surface, applying a wetting agent to a portion ofthe band, applying a dye solution to the wetted portion of the band, andinspecting the band of yarn ends to determine whether or not theindividual yarn ends of the band were satisfactorily receptive to thedye solution.

8. A method of simultaneously determining the receptive quality of aplurality of yarn ends to treatment with a dye solution according toclaim 7 wherein the yarn ends comprise regenerated cellulose yarns.

9. An apparatus for preparing a plurality of strands for simultaneouslytesting the receptive quality of the individual strands to treatmentwith a treating agent comprising a frame, at least one rotatablecylindrical surface journaled to the top of the frame and over which thestrand sheet is drawn, and at least one clamp affixed to each side ofthe frame at points below the cylindrical surface for anchoring thestrand sheet on both sides of the surface whereby when the surface isrotated the strand sheet is narrowed into a compact band to which thetreating agent is applied.

10. An apparatus for preparing a plurality of strands for simultaneouslytesting the receptive quality of the individual strands to treatmentwith a treating agent in accordance with claim 9 comprising a strandtensioning device for maintaining the narrowed anchored band of strandsunder tension during the application of the treating agent.

11. An apparatus for preparing a plurality of strands for simultaneouslytesting the receptive quality of the individual strands to treatmentwith a treating agent comprising a frame, a first rotatable cylindricalsurface of small diameter journaled to the top of the frame adjacent oneedge thereof, a second rotatable cylindrical surface of large diameterjournaled to the top of the frame adjacent the center thereof, a thirdrotatable cy lindrical surface of the same diameter as the first surfaceiournaled to the top of the frame adjacent the edge opposite to thatedge supporting the first surface, and a plurality of strand holdingclamps aflixed to each side of the frame at points below the first andthird surfaces, whereby when strands are drawn over the surfaces and thesurfaces are rotated the strands are narrowed into a compact band towhich the treating agent is applied.

12. An apparatus for preparing a plurality of strands for simultaneouslytesting the receptive quality of the individual strands to treatmentwith a treating agent in accordance with claim 11 comprising a strandtensioning device for maintaining the narrowed anchored band of strandsunder tension.

13. An apparatus for preparing a plurality of strands for simultaneouslytesting receptive quality of the individual strands to treatment with atreating agent in accordance with claim 11 wherein the periphery of thesecond surface mounted adjacent the center of the frame top lies abovethe periphery of the first and third surfaces.

14. A method of simultaneously determining the receptive quality of aplurality of strands to treatment with a treating agent comprising thesteps of forming a sheet of strands, drawing the strand sheet over atleast one substantially cylindrical rotatable surface, grouping togetherthe strands of the sheet on both sides of the rotatable surface,maintaining the strand sheet under tension and in contact with therotatable surface, rotating the surface to narrow the sheet of strandsinto a one-layer band, applying a treating agent to a portion of theband, and inspecting the band to determine whether or not the individualstrands of the band were satisfactorily receptive to the treating agent.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,721,628 Ingham July 23, 1929

